Building trust

In a dental office, trust is everything. Seriously! It’s like the secret sauce that makes the whole team work together like a well-oiled machine. We’re talking precision, expertise, and compassionate care all wrapped up in one. Trust makes communication flow and coordination seamless while strengthening confidence that everyone will have each other’s backs. But here’s the thing: trust doesn’t just magically appear out of thin air. It takes effort and nurturing, and that’s where team activities come in. They’re like the special ingredients that help cultivate trust and make the dental office the best place to work.

Turning a learning Opportunity into a cultural celebration

I saw this firsthand several weeks ago, providing a hands-on review of the head-and-neck examination with the clinical team of a local dental practice. I witnessed a group of people who worked together, cheering each other on and discussing strategies to incorporate and stay consistent with this aspect of dental care.

It was obvious the dentists and hygienists at this practice respected each other. After the course, I chatted with one of the hygienists and shared my insight into their teamwork. She said they regularly have experiences like this, and she can trust all her clinical teammates.

I have to say, after seeing and being a part of their team culture for the day, I was inspired to look at additional ways dental teams can work together to build respect and trust.

My Office’s Simple team-building activity

I didn’t have to look far because we have a regular lunchtime project in my office that I didn’t even realize was a great team-building activity. We have a large table in the break area, and for the last two years, we’ve always been working on a puzzle.

This one activity brings us together. When someone finds the one piece they spent days searching for, you’d think the winning goal was kicked with the amount of cheering happening.

Team building wisdom from Lisa Copeland

Curiosity made me dig deeper, so I reached out to Lisa Copeland. If you’ve listened to Lisa speak or read her book, “Iron-Out Your Communications: 7 Simple Steps to a Successful Dental Team and Loyal Patients,” you already know she is the go-to person in all things dental team-related.

When I asked Lisa if my theory of team learning and activities leads to employee retention and trust, she gave me an emphatic YES. She believes it so much it’s one of the first items she discusses in her book. Lisa states, “All-team collaborations and learning build a stable foundation that leads to increased engagement, productivity, and team wellness.”

I love this emphasis on the entire team working together for the greater good of the practice and each other. While each person has a designated role within the office, each person contributes to the whole. Building the bonds between those roles can keep the team strong. 

Team building activities don’t have to be expensive

Team activities do not have to cost an arm and a leg. Of course, most team members would love a big all-employee retreat to an exotic location. Still, something simple like a puzzle, a traveling trophy, a gratitude jar, or an idea box can create a shared experience. Most of these items Lisa discusses in her book.

Another facility I came across has a CE Club. They took the book club idea and applied it to continuing education. The premise is a group discussion following a continuing education course everyone participated in. This is a great way to follow up and gain insights into what each other has learned, how to implement the information into your practice, and how the information impacts each team member.

When thinking about team activities, Lisa suggests keeping a few things in mind. What do you want to achieve? Consider people’s roles, responsibilities, expertise, and personalities. Pick an activity that gets everyone involved and creates a safe environment. And don’t forget to evaluate how well it’s working and switch things up every few months to keep it fresh.

team culture is essential to creating a strong team

Whether you are looking for your next team member or searching for a place to put your skills to good use, thinking about team culture is essential. And I couldn’t agree more with Lisa when she says, “Every dental team member deserves a fulfilling career in a highly functional practice.” Building trust, collaboration, and team communication leads to better problem-solving, productivity, and a positive work environment.

So, let’s embrace the power of team activities in dental offices. Let’s come together, build trust, and create a strong, kick-ass team that delivers excellence in patient care.

Share with a friend:
DentalPost is the dental industry’s premier and largest online and mobile job board.
We connect and educate more than 900,000 job seekers in the U.S. and Canada to build better places to work through teams that excel.
Featured Posts
dental job board

JOB SEEKING

7 Features of the Best Dental Career and Job Search Platform

Looking for a new dental job – for whatever reason – can be a complicated, time-consuming, and emotionally draining process. Even when you find an opportunity that appears to be […]

DentalPost
DentalPost

Posted April 01, 2022

dental holidays

National Dental Holidays to Celebrate at Your Practice

Recognizing your dental team with gratitude for their hard work over the year is quintessential to having a successful practice. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are great examples of appreciation […]

Jennifer Reeves
Jennifer Reeves

Posted March 03, 2021

dental

JOB SEEKING

Which States Have the Highest RDH & Dental Assistant Wages (& the Lowest)?

As the demand for dental hygienists and assistants increases, wages are rising for dental hygienists and assistants. DentalPost’s 2023 Salary Report includes multiple income statistics, including income averages for the […]

Deborah Bush
Deborah Bush

Posted February 12, 2019

Featured Posts
dental job board

JOB SEEKING

7 Features of the Best Dental Career and Job Search Platform

Looking for a new dental job – for whatever reason – can be a complicated, time-consuming, and emotionally draining process. Even when you find an opportunity that appears to be […]

DentalPost
DentalPost

Posted April 01, 2022

dental holidays

National Dental Holidays to Celebrate at Your Practice

Recognizing your dental team with gratitude for their hard work over the year is quintessential to having a successful practice. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are great examples of appreciation […]

Jennifer Reeves
Jennifer Reeves

Posted March 03, 2021

dental

JOB SEEKING

Which States Have the Highest RDH & Dental Assistant Wages (& the Lowest)?

As the demand for dental hygienists and assistants increases, wages are rising for dental hygienists and assistants. DentalPost’s 2023 Salary Report includes multiple income statistics, including income averages for the […]

Deborah Bush
Deborah Bush

Posted February 12, 2019

Loading...

Loading...